Odds & Ends: Louisville, D-League, Raptors

Earlier this summer, we heard rumblings of Virginia Beach putting the wheels in motion to land an NBA team with an eye on the Kings.  Today, Marcus Green and Dan Klepal of The Courier-Journal write that a group of community leaders in Louisville, Kentucky would like to land a team as well.  However, one city spokesman says that there is no "active deal" between the city and any team in the Association.  Here's this afternoon's look around the league..

  • The Maine Red Claws of the D-League are set to hire Mike Taylor as their next head coach,  league sources tell Paul Flannery of WEEI.com.  Taylor has experience in Europe and the D-League and will now head the Red Claws in their first year under the full control of the Celtics.
  • AJ Mitnick of Sheridan Hoops brings us his All-Eurobasket Qualifying team, which features Omri Casspi, Danilo Gallinari, and Marcin Gortat.  Finnish guard Petteri Kaponen, whose draft rights are owned by the Mavericks, also turned in a standout performance during the games.
  • Doug Smith of the Toronto Star expects the Raptors to offer Jamaal Magloire an off-the-court role if he does not survive with the club.  Magloire's deal hasn't been officially announced yet but it is expected to be a one-year, non-guaranteed pact.
  • Jarvis Varnado is hoping to make the Heat on a non-guaranteed deal, but Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel doesn't like his chances.  Winderman expects Miami to give the nod to Mickell Gladness rather than the defensive-minded Varnado.
  • Last year's D-League call-up record will likely be broken this season, opines Gino Pilato of Ridiculous Upside.  Part of the reason for that is that there will be an all-time high of eleven NBA teams with single affiliates.
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